Health services to get mandatory licensing system

A MANDATORY licensing system for public and private healthcare services is to be drawn up by the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, Health Minister, Mary Harney, revealed yesterday.

Ms Harney, who established the commission, said patients were entitled to know that a healthcare service operated to a certain standard.

“At the moment, anyone can open a hospital or health clinic. No licence is needed. This is not appropriate. We need a licensing system,” she stressed.